Naga interlocutor begins fresh talks to end stalemate

Naga Accord interlocutor RN Ravi, who is also the Nagaland governor, held a series of meetings with Naga groups in New Delhi to end the stalemate to find a final solution to the Naga problem, ET has learnt.

NEW DELHI | GUWAHATI: Naga Accord interlocutor RN Ravi, who is also the Nagaland governor, held a series of meetings with Naga groups in New Delhi to end the stalemate to find a final solution to the Naga problem, ET has learnt. The Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs), a conglomerate of six political groups from Nagaland, urged Ravi to sign the agreement “with or without NSCN-IM.”

The NSCN-IM rebel group had hardened its stand on a pan-Naga identity, a separate flag and a separate constitution after Ravi said that NSCN-IM’s “procrastinating attitude” is delaying the settlement. The group had alleged that the government of India has been using state machinery to arrest and harass their members. After 18 years of ceasefire, NSCN-IM had, in August 2015, signed a framework agreement with the government of India (GoI).

While NSCN-IM recently stated that it had no knowledge of the proposed talks at New Delhi, sources said some of the group members met the interlocutor in private and put forth their views on various issues, including the arrest of its cadres by the NIA.

“The working committee, NNPGs and GoI can sign the agreement any day because it is the desire of the Nagas. We have distributed the status paper among our people, which is acceptable to them,” a senior Naga leader from NNPG told ET. Government sources said NNPGs met Ravi on Saturday to discuss the “bicameral legislation” for the state of Nagaland. “All issues have been discussed. The unresolved one will be done in future.

The Naga solution is not confined to Nagaland. In the absence of integration (of Naga inhabited areas), WC has prepared a broad political roadmap for Nagas in Manipur, Arunachal and Assam. We have also briefed indigenous Naga neighbours as well,” the Naga leader added.The Union home ministry officials, however, said that any decision on the Naga Peace Accord will be announced after bringing the state governments of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh come on board.

The three states had earlier expressed their apprehensions over the ongoing peace talks and sought to protect their territorial integrity. On Monday, hundreds of people in Dimapur in Nagaland took out a rally demanding early solution of the Indo-Naga political problem. Hundreds of people marched through the streets demanding that the “government of India delay the signing of the accord at your peril” in a rally organised by the Dimapur Gaon Burah Federation and the Naga Council Dimapur.

The people went to the Deputy Commissioner’s office and submitted a memorandum to prime minister Narendra Modi. T Bangerloba, president of Naga Council, Dimapur said, “Talks cannot linger on, we want an early solution.”